Soft and deformable hair tie, comfort toy, or wellness device

ABSTRACT

Slow rise foam accessories including a hair tie or fashion accessory, containing a soft foam material to add a squishy tactile feel. The hair tie or fashion accessory can be used for both holding hair up in a pony tail or bun, or worn on a user&#39;s wrist or ankle. It&#39;s an easily transportable sensory object that is soft and squishy for anxiety relief and tactile enjoyment. Embodiments of the invention may include customized slow rising, water resistant foam materials or polystyrene beads, which may be coated for easy insertion, and optionally scented. Additional embodiments include health, wellness or medical accessories including comfort blankets and eye masks are also described.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of hair tie/fashion accessories, toys, blankets or health and wellness or medical devices, specifically to hair ties and accessories, toys, blankets or devices having a soft and squishy feel, and more specifically to hair ties and accessories, toys, blankets or devices which may be scented, for providing alleviation of pain, anxiety relief and tactile enjoyment.

BACKGROUND

CA2942175 discloses a lice rejecting scrunchie. The scrunchie is impregnated with rosemary oil and has an inner core that is enclosed by an outer layer. When the scrunchie is put on the hair, the odor of the rosemary oil rejects lice, thus prevent them from getting on the user hair and scalp for several days. The core particles may be formed from a sponge, fabric, or other porous material. Furthermore, the core particles may be formed from polyurethane, which is a thermoplastic polymer that is used for padding and insulation in clothing and the like.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,795,197 discloses a personal accessory apparatus such as a convertible fashion accessory in the form of a bracelet, anklet, necklace or other looped jewelry item, or hair or ponytail holder. The accessory apparatus includes an outer elastic member and at least one inner elastic member disposed within the outer elastic tubular member with the at least one inner elastic member defining a hollow interior. The first and second inner elastic members may include a filler material such as filler yarns or threads, or foam.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,708 discloses a kit and process for creating a hair bun. The hair bun kit and process which allows a hair bun to be easily and quickly formed. The hair bun kit consists of a first resilient hairband, a second resilient hairband and a hair bun mold having a centered opening. In all the shapes, the hair bun mold is preferably made from a resilient material such as rubber, a soft plastic or a foam.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,799,581 discloses a ponytail holder with low friction interior portion. A ponytail holder with an inner elastic band and an outer cushioning sleeve. The sleeve is made from at least two fabrics, one of which has a lower coefficient of friction than the other. The lower frictional fabric is located on the inner portion of the ponytail holder and contacts the wearer's hair. The sleeve's outer portion is made from a more absorbent fabric that can be printed upon more easily than the inner portion.

US20190335864 discloses a decorative foam tape for use as fashion accessories. The invention is decorative foam tape for use as fashion accessories. The foam tape is provided on rolls much like ribbon or adhesive tape, and in multiple widths and a broad range of colors. Multiple coordinated colors of foam tape made be easily braided, wrapped, or tied together to form necklaces, bracelets, ponytail holders, braided bracelets, finger rings, toe rings, head bands, accessory holders, and many other accessories.

WO2000015072 discloses a scented scrunchie. This scented scrunchie can then be used to tie back the hair, perfume the hair and/or repel insects. This invention relates to improvements in a currently marketed hair band commonly called a scrunchie. A scrunchie is an elasticized tube of material which is used for tying back the hair. The new invention is to add scent to the scrunchie, thus producing a new product the scented scrunchie. The method for achieving this is by inserting scented formulas into the inside of the scrunchie.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,598 discloses a scented hair accessory. The scented hair accessory comprises a substantially tubular housing having a first and a second terminal end joined together to define an inner circumferential area. At least a portion of the tubular housing is porous, thereby allowing the scent emanating from the scented material to escape therefrom. The scented hair accessory can be worn either in the hair, functionally to secure the hair in a pony tail arrangement or decoratively to provide a scent thereat, on the wrist, about the neck or at the ankle in a decorative manner.

AU2018100224 discloses a scented hair scrunchie. The hair scrunchie contains an internal paper sachet, the sachet holding a scented material. When it is desired for the scent to be released, the sachet can be torn through the fabric of the hair scrunchie. In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hair scrunchie formed from an elasticized fabric tube, the hair scrunchie including a frangible container located internally of the tube, the container holding an absorbent material to which a scented oil or perfume has been added.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,295,992 discloses a hair band. The elongated member when made from a neoprene material preferably has a minimum tensile strength of about 70 psi and is preferably water-resistant and buoyant. In conventional hair bands, the absorption of excess sweat causes sanitary problems, such as odors and bacteria growth, and affects the modulus of elasticity and the bulk, which hinders the ability to properly hold hair. The water-resistant feature of the elongated member limits the band 10 from absorbing excess sweat during physical activity of the user, and allows the band to avoid these problems of conventional hair bands. The buoyancy feature of the elongated member facilitates easy location and retrieval of the band if ever accidentally dropped in a large body of water, such as a swimming pool or a lake.

JP2019209082 discloses a hair band with attaching/detaching aid and hair scrunchie using the same. The invention provides a water-resistant hair band with an attaching/detaching aid in which the attaching/detaching aid can be tightened to an annular elastic body and removed without tangling. An attaching/detaching aid includes an annular elastic body that is provided on an opposite side to a fastener through a hole of a bead of the attaching/detaching aid and serves as a marker for gripping, thereby readily being tightened.

None of the above cited documents, alone or in combination satisfy the need for fashion accessories, toys, blankets or devices having a squishy tactile feel that is an easily transportable sensory object that is soft and squishy for anxiety relief and tactile enjoyment.

All documents cited herein are incorporated by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY

It is an object of the invention to provide a soft and deformable fashion accessory, comfort toy, or wellness device.

In accordance with an aspect of the invention there is provided a hair tie, fashion or wellness accessory comprising: a fabric or cloth cover, enclosing; two or more sections of slow rise foam, said sections of slow rise foam being connected by; a length of extensible material.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided a kit for the creation of a hair tie, fashion or wellness accessory, said kit comprising: a fabric or cloth cover; two or more sections of slow rise foam; a length of extensible material; and instructions for creating said fashion accessory.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention there is provided a comfort toy or wellness accessory, comprising: a piece of soft material, enclosing; one or more pieces of slow rise foam.

The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are identified with like symbols.

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced.

FIG. 1 illustrates an aspect of a hair tie in accordance with one embodiment of the invention

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective cross section of a hair tie in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3A, FIG. 3B, and FIG. 3C illustrate aspects of the various shaped beads that can be used in certain embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4A-FIG. 4F illustrate aspects of the fabricating a hair tie in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B illustrate aspects of an alternative hair tie in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an aspect of an eye covering in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B illustrate aspects of a comfort blanket in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Devices and methods for carrying out the invention are presented in terms of embodiments depicted within the FIGS. However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and the configurations shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are particularly pointed out in the specification. The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read in conjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and any preferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed or otherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 illustrates the basic concept of an embodiment of the invention. The concept of this embodiment being the combination of a soft and squishable material such as foam 102 with a hair accessory such as a hair tie or scrunchie 104. The foams 102 that can be used are several and varied an may include slow rise foams often, such as the foams 102 used to make stress balls or objects or a polyurethane foam. The soft and squishable material may be a thermoplastic polymer, or silicone or silica.

FIG. 2 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of a hair accessory embodiment of the invention. The outer cover 202 of the hair accessory or scrunchie 104 contains a plurality of core particles or pieces of foam 102. The foam 102 may be pre-formed chunks or beads or may be cut from a preformed object such as a stress ball or squishy toy or foam toy. The core particles may be formed from polyurethane, or other suitable thermoplastic polymers used in the clothing industry for padding or insulation and the like.

In this particular embodiment, the pieces of foam 102 are attached together to form an annular arrangement by means of a connecting member 204. The connecting member 204 typically comprises or is fabricated from an extensible member including, but not limited to elastic, latex, spandex or any form of stretchy fabric or thread. Typically, the connecting member may contain rubber or spandex cores that are wrapped in polyester, nylon or cotton fiber. The fiber-covered cores may be braided, knit or woven together to form the stretchy or extensible fabric.

FIG. 3 A-C illustrate a number of different types of pre-formed foam pre-formed beads 308. There are various different type, shapes and sizes of pre-formed beads 308 that may be used in the various different embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3A illustrates rounded cylindrical beads with hole and slit 302.

FIG. 3B illustrates rounded square beads with hole and slit 304.

FIG. 3C illustrates rounded ball shaped circular beads with hole and slit 306.

It is contemplated that the hair accessory embodiments of the invention, including but not limited to scrunchies 104, may be fabricated to include rounded cylindrical beads with hole and slit 302, rounded square beads with hole and slit 304 or circular beads with hole and slit 306.

FIG. 4A-F illustrate the components and method steps to making and embodiment of the invention that is a hair accessory or scrunchie 104.

FIG. 4A shows a typical size and shape of fabric for the outer cover 202 and the length of connecting member 204.

FIG. 4B shows the deconstruction of a slow rise foam 102 object into suitably sized pieces to be used within the body of the scrunchie 104.

FIG. 4C shows the suitably sized pieces of slow rise foam 102 being threaded onto the connecting member 204.

FIG. 4D shows the outer cover 202 having been sewn or glued along the longer edges to form a tubular member.

FIG. 4E shows the connecting member 204, containing the suitably sized pieces of slow rise foam 102, being threaded into the tubular outer cover 202. The ends of the connecting members 204 are then joined together, typically by means of a knot.

FIG. 4F shows the shorter edges of the outer cover 202 being attached and the suitably sized pieces of slow rise foam 102 being massaged into place around the perimeter of the scrunchie 104.

FIG. 5A-B illustrate an alternative scrunchie 502 in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5A shows a side view of the alternative scrunchie 502. The alternative scrunchie 502 is similar to the scrunchie 104 in that it has a connecting member 204 (not shown) that connects a plurality of pre-formed beads 308 together to form a device that can be used to tie hair back into a pony tail, a bun, a lifted pony tail or a messy bun. An exterior bead or embellishment 504 may be positioned on an outer surface of the alternative scrunchie 502.

FIG. 5B shows a top view of the alternative scrunchie 502. The view shows the ribbed covering 506 of the alternative scrunchie 502 in greater detail. The ribbed covering conforms to the shape of the pre-formed beads 308, expanding to surround the pre-formed beads 308, and contracting in between the pre-formed beads 308. This gives the alternative scrunchie 502 a beaded appearance. In this embodiment of the invention, the exterior bead or embellishment 504 is positioned to cover the join in the ribbed covering 506.

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of an eye mask 602 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment of the invention, the foam 102 is fabricated into a padded mask 604 structure that forms a framework that surrounds a user's eyes. The padded mask 604 is enclosed inside an outer cover 202 and the area that covers the eyes comprises a non-padded eye covering 606. The non-padded eye covering 606 may be the same material as the outer cover 202 or a different material.

The padded mask 604 is secured in place on the user's head by means of securement members 608. The securement members 608 are typically made from extensible material such as elastic.

The padded mask 604 portion of the eye mask 602 may be impregnated with various essential oils known to aid in the mitigation of migraines or to enhance sleep.

The outer cover 202 is selected from the group consisting of: wool; fleece; cotton; acrylic; or polyester.

FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B show an embodiment of comfort blankets 702 in accordance with an aspect of the invention.

A sheet of fabric 704 can be made into variety of shapes and sizes. For example, square, rectangular, triangular, rhombus, diamond, pentagon, hexagon, etc.

The fabric 704 may be made from, but not limited to: wool; fleece; cotton; acrylic; or polyester.

FIG. 7A shows embellishments containing foam 102 attached at various places on the blanket, such as at the corners, as shown with foam filled pop-poms 706.

FIG. 7B shows an embellishment containing foam 102 attached at a central location on the blanket, again shown with a foam filled pop-pom 706.

The foam 102 in the embellishments is made from a slow rise foam and can provide comfort via the material being tactile and squishy. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, it may be impregnated with essential oils.

Embodiments of the invention disclosed herein include a hair tie fashion accessory, also known as a “Scrunchie” that is stuffed with a soft foam material to add a squishy tactile feel. It's a fashion accessory, hair tie that is used for both holding hair up, or worn on your wrist or ankle. It's an easily transportable sensory object that is soft and squishy for anxiety relief and tactile enjoyment. Embodiments of the invention may include customized slow rising, water resistant foam materials or polystyrene beads, which may be coated for easy insertion, and optionally scented and herein referred to as Smunchies™.

Smunchies™ combine the sensory experience of squishy toys with the functionality and style of a scrunchie. Smunchies™ can be worn in your hair like a regular scrunchy or on your wrist or around your ankle as an accessory to enhance an outfit and have an amazing tactile feel when squeezed. Smunchies™ are fashionable anxiety relief. Smunchies™ do not damage your hair or leave creases in your hair commonly a result of using regular hair elastics. Due to the foam inside, the Smunchie™ also aids to maintaining a lifted pony tail. Smunchies™ can be held in your hand and squeezed like a plush squishy toy. Smunchies™ are sewn similar to a scrunchie except the inside elastic band is threaded through a series of customized slow rising, water resistant, coated for easy insertion, scented polyurethane beads and inserted into the fabric tube and tied off before the fabric is sewn up completely. The scented polyurethane beads also penetrate through the fabric providing an additional olfactory experience.

The soft and squishable materials used in various embodiments of the invention may be made from a specially formulated soft polyurethane foam, that slowly returns to its original shape after being squeezed. Squishable toys may be manufactured into many different shapes and sizes, such as animals, fruits, and food items. They are often scented to match the object represented.

Squishy foams come in a variety of different densities, each having different properties. For example, some foams re-inflate slowly after having been squeezed, whereas others re-inflate more rapidly. The speed can vary from several seconds to minutes, and it is contemplated that foam re-inflation rates in the region of 2 to 8 seconds are likely to be used in the construction of many embodiments of the invention.

Other known famous fads such as the stress ball and fidget spinner have been known to help people who have trouble focusing or those who may need to fidget or squeeze to relieve nervous energy, anxiety, or psychological stress. There are claims that these can help calm down people who have anxiety and other neurological disorders like ADHD and autism.

Other forms of sensory toys such as slime and squishy toys have proceeded the fidget spinner and stress ball becoming the most popular sensory play to date. The Smunchies™ combines these elements of sensory play, hair tie functionality and expression through fashion accessories. It provides the opportunity to wear a sensory object as a fashion accessory for on the go easily on your wrist or ankle as opposed to a separate additional device you would carry around in your hand or pocket. It is more discrete since it can alleviate the stigma of casting a spotlight on the user as having or dealing with issues of anxiety. It can be fashioned for all age ranges, demographics and different industries (i.e., toy). The beads could potentially be sold on their own for kids to customize/paint squishy necklaces, bracelets, on their own similar to customizable squishy toys.

Scented polyurethane beads also penetrate through the fabric providing an additional olfactory experience. Due to the foam inside, the Smunchies™ also aids to maintaining a lifted pony tail.

Various different embodiments of the invention are contemplated, including but not limited to commercially saleable kits for the creation of a fashion accessory. The kits may comprise fabric or cloth coverings; sections, chunks or pre-formed beads of slow rise foam which are optionally scented, lengths of extensible material fabric or thread; and instructions for creating said fashion accessory such as a scrunchie 104, necklaces, anklets, or bracelets.

Other embodiments of the invention may include a comfort toy or health and wellness accessory. The comfort toy or accessory may take the form of fabric covered pop-poms or shapes made from suitably sized and shaped pieces of slow rise foam 102. The pom-poms or shapes may be scented and may be used as an embellishment on various objects, such but not limited to blankets.

The scents used to add the olfactory experience to the foam 102 may be synthetic or natural essential oils. It is contemplated that a wide variety of health, wellness or medicinal uses may be realized when the embodiments of the invention include essential oils. For example, eye masks may be fabricated to contain the slow rise foam 102 that are impregnated with peppermint oil to alleviate headaches and migraines. In other embodiments essential oils may be incorporated into fabric covered foam 102 pads that are sized and proportioned to accommodate sore and aching joints or limbs.

The essential oils may be selected from, but not limited to the group consisting of; arnica; birch; black pepper; cayenne; chamomile; clary; clove; copaiba; cypress; eucalyptus; frankincense; ginger; helichrysum; juniper; lavender; lemongrass; marjoram; peppermint; rosemary; sandalwood; thyme; vetiver; yarrow; and wintergreen. Many of these oils are have analgesic properties.

Embodiments of the invention may contain wintergreen which is an essential oil that contains methyl salicylate (closely related to aspirin) which creates a topical analgesic effect, it is known for producing a natural numbing effect, and it promotes circulation. Eucalyptus essential oil is known to be an antispasmodic, which eases muscle pain, and swelling, and the aroma has calming effect. Peppermint essential oil contains menthol, has cooling effect, it is also antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory effect, which promotes improved circulation, and its aroma has calming effect and is known to relieve headaches and migraines. Menthol crystals may also be included as they are a counter irritant that have a cooling effect on the skin, which distracts the brain from pain.

Embodiments of the invention may therefore function to mitigate headaches and migraines, relieve aches and pain of muscle and joints associated with backache and neck, arthritis, strained muscles; relieve pain from peripheral nerve pain; help to decrease joint/muscle inflammation; and soothe muscle spasms.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously, many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments described were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair tie, fashion or wellness accessory comprising: a fabric or cloth cover, enclosing; two or more sections of slow rise foam, said sections of slow rise foam being connected by; a length of extensible material.
 2. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said hair tie, fashion or wellness accessory is a hair scrunchie.
 3. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said two or more sections of slow rise foam consist beads having a longitudinal bore extending through said beads.
 4. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said length of extensible material is an elastic thread or band.
 5. The accessory of claim 1, wherein said slow rise foam is impregnated with one or more synthetic or natural scents.
 6. The accessory of claim 5, wherein the natural scents are provided by one or more essential oils.
 7. The accessory of claim 6, wherein the one or more essential oils are selected from the group consisting of: arnica; birch; black pepper; cayenne; chamomile; clary; clove; copaiba; cypress; eucalyptus; frankincense; ginger; helichry sum; juniper; lavender; lemongrass; marjoram; peppermint; rosemary; sandalwood; thyme; vetiver; yarrow; and wintergreen.
 8. A kit for the creation of a hair tie, fashion or wellness accessory, said kit comprising: a fabric or cloth cover; two or more sections of slow rise foam; a length of extensible material; optional embellishments; and instructions for creating said fashion accessory.
 9. A comfort toy or wellness accessory, comprising: a piece of soft material, enclosing; one or more pieces of slow rise foam.
 10. The toy or accessory of claim 9, wherein said piece of soft material encloses said one or more pieces of slow rise foam to form a pop-pom.
 11. The toy or accessory of claim 9, wherein one or more pom-poms are attached to a second piece of soft material to form an embellished blanket.
 12. The toy or accessory of claim 11, wherein the second piece of soft material is selected from the group consisting of: wool; fleece; cotton; acrylic; or polyester.
 13. The toy or accessory of claim 9, wherein said piece of soft material encloses said one or more pieces of slow rise foam that is shaped to form an eye mask.
 14. The toy or accessory of claim 13, wherein the slow rise foam that is shaped to form an eye mask comprises two joined hollow ovoids sized and configured to conform to an eye region of a user.
 15. The toy or accessory of claim 14, wherein a central portion of the two joined hollow ovoids are covered with an additional piece of soft material to cover the eyes of the user.
 16. The toy or accessory of claim 15, wherein the piece of soft material and the additional piece of soft material are independently selected from the group consisting of: wool; fleece; cotton; acrylic; or polyester.
 17. The toy or accessory of claim 15, wherein the slow rise foam is impregnated with one or more essential oils selected from; peppermint oil; lavender oil; chamomile oil; rosemary oil; and eucalyptus.
 18. The toy or accessory of claim 9, wherein said slow rise foam is impregnated with one or more synthetic or natural scents.
 19. The toy or accessory of claim 18, wherein the natural scents are provided by one or more essential oils.
 20. The toy or accessory of claim 18, wherein the one or more essential oils are selected from the group consisting of: arnica; birch; black pepper; cayenne; chamomile; clary; clove; copaiba; cypress; eucalyptus; frankincense; ginger; helichrysum; juniper; lavender; lemongrass; marjoram; peppermint; rosemary; sandalwood; thyme; vetiver; yarrow; and wintergreen. 